Improvement in lamp-wicks



E. D. BOYD.

Lamp Wick.

Patented Sept- I4, 1869.

PETERS MbL'RMgnpMr, VII-Magma. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD D. BOYD, OF HELENA, ARKANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LAMP-WICKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 94,707, dated September14, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. D. BOYD, of Helena, in the county of Phillips andState of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Burnerstor Goal-Oil, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section, taken inline of the longest diameter. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 isa vertical section, taken in line of the shortest diameter. Fig. 4 is aside view. Fig. 5 is a side view, showing a modified form of the device,a portion being broken away near the upper end. Fig. 6 is a top view ofthe modified construction represented in Fig. 5.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and cheap perpetualWick for lamps.

This object is accomplished by the employment of a tube filled withpulverized gypsum or plaster-of-paris, or other equivalent material, toconduct the oil, and provided with burner-orifices, and with sieves orstrainers, to prevent foreign particles from mingling with the plasterand choking the tube.

In the drawings, A is the tube, which may be of metal, glass, or anyother suitable material, and may be of any desired form and size. Thistube is provided with a wire-gauze or foraminated bottom, B, whichstrains out any impurity from the oil before it passes up into the tube.Other strainers may be arranged at suitable points, if preferred. Thetop of the tube is slightly contracted, and is provided with one or moreorifices, a a a, which may be circular, oblong, or of any other form,their function being simply to allow proper combustion of the oil at thetop of the tube. The tube is filled with finely granulated or pulverizedgypsum G, which rests upon the bottom B, and, by capillary attraction,draws the oil up from the reservoir, and allows it to burn at a a a. Acap-extinguisher, C, may be used in connection with the tube, and anykind of slotted cap for deflecting the air properly upon the flame, soas to increase its intensity, may be employed, as in the ordinarykerosene and Argand lamps.

For filling the tube, ground plaster-of-paris is perhaps the bestmaterial, although any other ground stone, mineral, or metal,sufficiently refractory for the purpose, might be employed in lieuthereof.

This device constitutes a perpetual wick, which may be employed inconnection with any form of lamp. It will operate to good advantage, andoftentimes very conveniently, when made entirely independent of thelamp, and used in connection with oil placed in a cup, tumbler, bottle,or any other vessel that may be at hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A perpetual wick or burner consisting essentially of the tube A, havinga strainer, B, and an opening or openings, at a, and partially or whollyfilled with ground or pulverized mineral substance G, substantially asand for the purposes herein set forth.

To the above specification of my invention I have signed my hand this6th day of August, 1869.

EDWARD D. BOYD. Witnesses:

CHAS. A. PETTIT, S. G. KEMON.

